Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics July 5, 2012 - 7:29am

Yeah, bitches!

Sorry, in a weird, less than eloquent and productive contributor kind of mood at the moment, it too shall pass.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner July 5, 2012 - 7:31am

See this is my problem with these debates. There is no way to prove or disprove one way or the other. Even if god did show up tomorrow and set up shop in downtown New York, there would STILL be people who disbelieve, even while it sat in front of them. The point is...well no, you made the point for believers yourself. 

 

M-theory  God sounds reasonable to me;"

 

I am a firm believer in things I don't know. 

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics July 5, 2012 - 7:37am

I guess that's the enjoyment of debating, for me anyway. If you could prove something, then debate would be pointless. Someone can admit a fact, or choose to ignore it, but proving a fact is an empty endeavor because it doesn't require someone's recognition for it to be valid.

I just like the back and forth, learning about people through their beliefs, and the methods they use to espouse said beliefs.

If this is seen as antagonistic, or a waste of time and energy, I apologize.

PS - I like that last line of yours, almost worthy of putting in a quotes book. (If it isn't already in one, and you're nothing more than a thieving monster for not attributing it to its proper source.)

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner July 5, 2012 - 7:39am

I might have stole it, I'm not sure. I wrote and it came out and no one enjoys a debate more than I, I just think we should all admit absolutism is silly, whether scientific, Sith or theological 

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics July 5, 2012 - 7:45am

Oooh, Sith, I get to be Darth Maul, or maybe I'll make up my own - Darth Pimptastic. Yeah, that's a badass name.

Yes, absolutism is foolish, arrogant, and a little more than a bit ignorant.

GaryP's picture
GaryP from Denver is reading a bit of this and that July 5, 2012 - 8:47am

If god did show up, then he proved his existence (assuming he actually did prove that) . If someone chooses to not believe in the evidence, then they are simply wrong. Of course, they could argue that the being who showed up and with the wave of his hand, turned Manhattan back into its primal state, wasn't their god--wasn't the Judeo-Christian god or Shiva or Cthulhu. But I think it would still be fair game to call them an idiot as you frolic with unicorns in the New New York.

As it would be fair game to say I was wrong if parts of string theory are proven wrong. But to prove me wrong is not that big of a deal. I'm not a physicist and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. However, if the existence of a god (or gods) is proven wrong, that would be kind of a big deal.

But to your point, Matt, there are still educated human beings who believe man never went to the moon (or even made it into space at all).

And I'll be Darth Pussy Galore.

Jack Campbell Jr.'s picture
Jack Campbell Jr. from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp Meyer July 5, 2012 - 8:55am

The existance of any God cannot be proven or disproven. That has always been the point.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like July 5, 2012 - 8:56am

I'm not a physicist and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

You do, however, seem to be Gellin'.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like July 5, 2012 - 8:57am

If someone could define "God" it might help with the claims of provability / dis-provability.

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics July 5, 2012 - 8:58am

Which Darth will you be, Jack Campbell Jr.?

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like July 5, 2012 - 9:14am

If someone could define "God" it might help with the claims of provability / dis-provability.

Ya know, cuz if you don't know what it is, it's hard to prove.  And if you don't know what it is, it's hard to say it doesn't exist.  Anybody can say, "I believe in things I can't entirely understand or define," but unless those things are all "God" (ex machina, which is impossible to prove,) such a belief is not in any way enlightening.

Jack Campbell Jr.'s picture
Jack Campbell Jr. from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp Meyer July 5, 2012 - 9:18am

I would be Darth Vader, because my son pretends to be a Jedi.

I also think it is funny when because he can't pronounce it and calls Darth Vader "Dark Tomater."

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters July 5, 2012 - 9:20am

My son calls Darth Vader "Robot Dog".

 

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 5, 2012 - 9:21am

@Gary - That's silly. It would be Newer York.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner July 5, 2012 - 9:23am

I'm not a physicist and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night."

I just saved a load of money by switching my car insurance. 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters July 5, 2012 - 9:24am

I really want to define God now, because that does make sense, but I'm on my way out.  I'll think on it, get back to you.

.'s picture
. July 5, 2012 - 9:28am

Let's all read some Nietzsche and have a drink. 

I hate that some of the articles (I've only read one) have a religious overtone to them. It's not objective at all. 

And the name of the particle is just silly as well. You wouldn't name magma "Satan Semen." 

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics July 5, 2012 - 9:32am

Maybe YOU wouldn't name it that...

And Robot Dog??? I must hear the reasoning behind that one.

Chris Davis's picture
Chris Davis from Indiana is reading A Feast of Snakes by Harry Crews July 5, 2012 - 9:36am

“Faith is what someone knows to be true, whether they believe it or not.”
― Flannery O'Connor

I like this quote and I feel it fits in this thread, carry on heathens.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like July 5, 2012 - 9:41am

The name "God Particle" came from a book title; it's not meant to be religious, more of a marketing gimmick from what I've heard.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like July 5, 2012 - 9:43am

"the publisher wouldn't let us call it the Goddamn Particle, though that might be a more appropriate title, given its villainous nature and the expense it is causing." - Leon Lederman

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner July 5, 2012 - 9:48am

It's a mass transmitter, not divine. I do like Satan's Semen for magma though

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics July 5, 2012 - 9:50am

Hell yeah, and heavenly piss for rain.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters July 5, 2012 - 10:15am

"Robot Dog"

Well, look at his helmet.  It does sort of look like a robot dog.  We had a pug, if that helps.

XyZy's picture
XyZy from New York City is reading Seveneves and Animal Money July 5, 2012 - 10:18am

 

okay... I could see that.

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics July 5, 2012 - 12:15pm

LOL, that is absolutely priceless. If that isn't proof that there is a dog, I don't know what is.

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig July 5, 2012 - 1:26pm

It just kills me when people view a belief in a higher power and science as mutually exclusive. If it is stupid for the Creationists to do it, it's stupid for anyone. I am a part of a very, very liberal religion that doesn't talk much about God, our outgoing minister is an atheist. It's about intellectualism paired with spirituality--so my belief in God isn't because I think I'll burn for eternity if I don't. I don't believe in Hell, and I'm not sure I believe in "Heaven" as it is oft described, if at all.

I am pretty excited about the Higgs boson and hope that they will get somewhere before December when the Large Hadron Collider will be closed for 2 years for maintenance. Being able to prove the Big Bang is only proof of the Big Bang, though. Absolutely HUGE, yes. Absolute? No.

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig July 5, 2012 - 1:30pm

Anybody can say, "I believe in things I can't entirely understand or define," but unless those things are all "God" (ex machina, which is impossible to prove,) such a belief is not in any way enlightening.

Well I agree, but I disagree, too. Belief in and of itself isn't enlightening, but if one really, truly cares about their spirituality, their person growth, etc in regards to that belief, then you can set out on a very enlightening journey. I've walked a lot of miles before I got where I am (spiritually), and every step was in some way enlightening. I learned about people, I learned about myself, I learned about different belief systems. In the end, if there is no God, no afterlife, no nothing--that's probably okay. The learning is enough.

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics July 5, 2012 - 1:34pm

Thank you for joining this discussion, Sparrow!

I think you've found the meaning of life - "The learning is enough." Wether you meant to announce it to the world or not, I really think everything does come down to that one purpose, and it is enough to live for - in my selfom humble but often wrong opinion.

Fylh's picture
Fylh from from from is reading is from is reading is reading is reading reading is reading July 5, 2012 - 1:40pm

God didn't exist until he made Oasis break up.

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig July 5, 2012 - 1:40pm

Well, in this case, I think you're right. Mainly because you're agreeing with me.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters July 5, 2012 - 1:46pm

"If there are marshmallow Peeps, then God created them." - Abraham Lincoln

Fylh's picture
Fylh from from from is reading is from is reading is reading is reading reading is reading July 5, 2012 - 1:51pm

"We shall have done away with God, not when a better answer is found, but when a better question is asked."

— Frank Parsons Selwyn

Dorian Grey's picture
Dorian Grey from Transexual, Transylvania is reading "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck July 5, 2012 - 2:04pm

"If God exists, then how come there's no porn of him?"

A quote I saw on the internet. Rule 34. You can't explain that.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters July 5, 2012 - 2:06pm

"If the only thing you have to question is God, someone should make you dig ditches.  And if you have other things to question, stop wasting time."

-- Hemingway

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like July 5, 2012 - 2:07pm

such a belief is not in any way enlightening

I didn't mean to the one who holds said belief, but rather to me, the one hoping to be enlightened as to what the person actually believes.

 

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like July 5, 2012 - 2:10pm

Hemingway should've dug his own grave before blowing his brains out.

Michael J. Riser's picture
Michael J. Riser from CA, TX, Japan, back to CA is reading The Tyrant - Michael Cisco, The Devil Takes You Home - Gabino Iglesias July 5, 2012 - 5:49pm

It just kills me when people view a belief in a higher power and science as mutually exclusive. If it is stupid for the Creationists to do it, it's stupid for anyone

 

Well said. And interesting as you kept going.

Ever read Alain de Botton's Religion for Atheists?